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Re: SPARKS

Does anyone know why, when metal is placed in a microwave oven, sparks
are generated? What is the process by which they occur?

My students tell me that foil lying flat in the oven does not spark but
when wrapped around a sandwich it does spark. Not being willing to risk
damaging mine, I wonder if someone knows the details of the spark
production.

Thanks for any insights.
--
David Abineri
--

I am not sure but I think that it has something to do with whether or not
there are "points" on the metal which will allow a strong enough field at
the point to show that arcing. I am told that rounded edges are used to
prevent this arcing behavior. I cannot find the address now, but there is a
website that will tell more than you ever ned to know about microwave
ovens.

Ken Fox
Smoky Hill High School
16100 Smoky Hill Rd
Aurora,CO.80015
303-693-1700
kfox@shhs1.smoky.org
http://stega.smoky.org/~kfox/Physics.html